Leaders In Faith  Pastor Kirk Rushing

Monday

Mar 22, 2010 at 12:01 AMMar 22, 2010 at 9:13 PM

Editor’s Note: Leaders in Faith is a seven-part series that provides personal looks at some of the pastors who devote their time ministering to the many small congregations in south central Oklahoma. This is the sixth part in the series.

Jennifer Lindsey, Education Reporter

Background

Everyone is welcome at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church.

“We ask people to come to Pleasantville and enjoy the good life,” Pastor Kirk Rushing said.

Before Mount Pleasant, Rushing served as pastor at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Wynnewood. Rushing has served the Mt. Pleasant congregation for 13 years.

“We have a multicultural church. We have every race represented. All are welcome. That helps us get the word out,” Rushing said.

Mt. Pleasant currently has about 75 members.

“We’re growing every day. We’ve had new members the last couple of months,” Rushing said.

The congregation includes people from as far as Tishomingo and Moore.

“They drive and they want to be a part of it,” Rushing said.

Services are at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sundays. On Wednesdays, youth meet at 6 p.m., prayer meeting is at 6:30 and Bible study is at 7 p.m.

The Call

Rushing is a fifth generation of ministers.

“I’ve always been in the church and around the church. My father, grandfather, great-grandfather, all were ministers,” he said. “I’ve never been far from the church.”

Despite working in other fields, Rushing knew that he was meant to be a minister.

“I couldn’t run away from it. I just had to accept it,” he said.

His son continues the tradition as the minister at Mount Carmel, while his son-in-law serves as the associate pastor at Mount Pleasant.

Favorite “Calling”
Anecdote

Rushing closes each service by saying, “We’re just nobodies trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody.”

“It stays universal. It’s all inclusive and leaves nobody out,” Rushing said. “We try to go with people of our likeness, but our world is a melting pot.”

What recharges
the pastors batteries?

Rushing also works at the Ardmore Higher Education Center as a counselor for the Educational Opportunity Center. Both jobs work toward helping people.

“I just work hand in hand, helping people succeed and knowing you can definitely change the circumstances you’re in,” Rushing said.

However, all the work can add up on a person and energy can start to run out.

Yet, Rushing said someone thanking him, whether it be at AHEC or the church is recharging.

“You know now that it is time to move forward and you know why you do this,” he said.
Jennifer Lindsey